Skip to content

mandíbula

jaw

noun mahn-DEE-boo-lah Rare
Body & Health Body Parts

Origin: From Latin mandibula, from mandere ('to chew').

Also means

mandible

Usage Note

Mandíbula refers to the lower jaw (the movable bone). The upper jaw is the maxilar or maxila. In anatomy both the upper and lower halves can be called mandíbulas, but in everyday speech mandíbula almost always means the lower one. The phrase caérsele la mandíbula ('jaw drops') expresses shock.

Examples

"El dentista examinó la mandíbula del paciente con cuidado."

Natural Translation

The dentist carefully examined the patient's jaw.

Explore Spanish by topic